Hydrodynamic coupling



Sept. 29, 1953 E. R. L ANGDONl 2,653,547

HYDRODYNAMIC couPLING Filed March 1, 1947 Patented Sept. 29, 1953 HYDRODYNAMIC COUPLING Eric R. Langdon, Muncie, Ind., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 1, 1947, Serial No. 731,739

(Cl. S-115) 5 Claims.

My invention relates to hydrodynamic coupling devices and more particularly to such coupling devices which function to multiply the torque between an input and an output shaft.

I-Iydrodynamic coupling devices generally comprise a plurality of vaned elements including a driving element and a driven element, the drive between which is through a body of liquid. The vanes of these elements impart energy to and receive energy from the body of liquid. A fluid coupling which is not intended to multiply torque generally includes only two vaned elements while a hydrodynamic torque converter includes at least three vaned elements, a stator element which has a reaction force impressed thereon by the iiuid and is held from rotation being the third element. Such hydrodynamic torque converters are shown, for example, in Schneider et al., Patent No. 2,306,758, and Schneider et al., Patent No. 2,333,680.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in the past in assembling the hydrodynamic coupling vaned elements and in particular, those for coupling devices of the torque converter type. The vanes in the driving and driven elements of the non-torque converting type of coupling are generally flat pieces of metal which are relatively simple to attach to the driving and driven members; however, the vanes in the elements of a torque converting hydrodynamic device, on the other hand, generally are curved and are of substantial thickness and differ in thickness throughout their length and breadth. It has been found that the vanes of a torque converting hydrodynamic device may be made expeditiously by casting; however, this type of vane has proved quite difficult to attach to the driving, driven or stator elements of the torque converter. This is particularly true when the vanes are of a metal such as aluminum which cannot be Welded very well to these elements; which are preferably steel stampings.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement for attaching the vanes to the casing of a vaned hydrodynamic element in order to form the element, which vanes have substantial thickness and are contemplated to preferably be of a light weight metal, which cannot be readily welded to the casing.

More particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide each of the vanes in ahydrodynamic torque converter with deformable members extending outwardly from the edges of the vane and through openings in the casing of the torque converter and which are deformed to fasten the vanes and casing together.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide aluminum vanes in a hydrodynamic torque converter with steel inserts, which extend from the edges of the vanes and through openings in the casing of the converter and which are clinched over on faces of the casing in order to fasten the vanes and casing together. It is contemplated vthat the steel inserts may preferably be cast in the vanes and may extend completely through the vanes from one edge to the other or may constitute a pair of separate inserts adjacent opposite edges oi' the vanes.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a deformable rivet arrangement for fastening the vanes to a casing member in a hydrodynamic torque converter. It is contemplated that the vanes shall be put in place relative to the casing member and then the deformable rivets may be positioned in coinciding openings preliminarily formed in the casing and vanes, and thereafter deformed in order to fix the parts together.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements, and devices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such other objects as will apn pear from the following description of certain preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing', wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an impeller or driving element of a hydrodynamic torque converter illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the impeller as seen from the left in Fig. 1 or from the inner side of the impeller; y Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the impeller shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an impeller illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the impeller shown in Fig. 4 and taken on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an impeller illustrating another embodiment o the invention.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, the illustrated impeller element may be seen to comprise an outer casing l0 which is provided with a hub portion Il welded thereto. Suitable holes i2 are provided in the hub portion and casing by means of which the impeller element may be attached to a suitable hub (not shown) The casing I has a plurality of vanes I 3 disposed in equally spaced relation therein, and the vanes are in contact with the casing I0 on base edges I4 thereof. An inner core'orcore'ring I5 is disposed Within and spaced from the casing I0, and the core is in contact with edges I6 of the vanes which arel opposite the vane edges I4.

It will be understood that the casirlig IQ land the core I5 are both annular and are complete rings, although only portions-'ofthe casing and core are illustrated in the drawing. The vanes'`I3 are equally spaced and extend completely around the casing and core ring. Itwvillv be noted. that the vanes I3 are curved and have a varying and substantial thickness, and the vanes are of such form that the illustrated hydrodynamic coupling element is adap'tedto constitute .an impeller or d'rivingelement ina hydrodynamic torque conve'rteL-such asis, for example, shown :in the .two Schneider patents 'hercinbefore mentioned. It will-be understood thatrtheillustrated impeller .element isadapted tobe used in connection with a vaned driven element'and a .vaned stator ele- .these two parts need not have. auf/"substantial thicknessjthey may be made' .as light. as desired. It will be understood, of course, that the casing and c'o're ring may alsobe made' of other suitable materials, such as cast iron which is turned down otra lathe to suitable shape-and thickness. The v'a'nes 'I3, which' have substantial thickness and which would have"appreciable Weighti made from steel,- are preferably-castof a lighter. :naterial, suchas "aluminum, or, as will be understood,

-th'evanes may evenrbe made` of a lightnonmetallic material such as a synthetic resin'. The vanes 13, thecore ring I5 and the casing IOare fixed together, and an obvious way. Yof so fixing thesepa'rts together would, of course, simply constitutelweldingthe' parts togetherl In' actual. practice, however, it has been found diflicult to satisfactorily Weld aluminum vanes toA a steel casingfand core ring,` dueto the difference of theinvo metals. My invention solvesthis problem by providing deformable members which extend throughlthe casing or core ring and into the vanes whiclL- 'afterl being deformed, function to nx these parts together.

- 'A pairl of steel vpins or inserts I7 are 4provided on the iouterl edge I4 of each of the vanes I3,

and al steel pinv o1-insert I8 is provided in the inner edge I6 of each of the varies. The linserts IIfand -I8 in cross 'section Vare in tie' form' of Cotter pins, as will be noted from Fig. 3, but the inserts have greater `Widththan ordinary Cotter' pins as will be noted from Figs. l and 2, the inserts being formed from flat sheet metal stock as by stamping; rheinner ends'of these inserts are suitably-postioned in a mold for the vanes and` when the vanes as a'whole are castlthe inserts are'thus embedded in the vanes. Openings i9 are provided in the outer casing I0 and openings 20 are provided in the core I5 for receiving the pins I'I and I8 when the vanes I3 are positioned in their proper places in the casing I0 and with respect to the core ring I5.

The pins I1 are clinched over the casing I0 and have their outer ends' I 1a and I'Ib bent back into contact with the outer face'ZI of the casing I0 in order to x the vanes I3 with respect to the outer casing. The pin portions I'Ia and I'Ib may also be spot welded, as at 22, to the face 2i for 'furthe'rxing the vanes with respect to the outer'casing I0- 'The core ring I5 is fixed in a similar'manner'with respect to the vanes I3 by a deformation'of the pins I8. The ends lila and Ivb of the pins are bent back into contact with the outer face `23'01 the core ring I5 to clinch the pins over the core ring, and the pin ends Sa and I8b are also preferably welded as at 24 to the face 23.

The pinsV I1 and I8 thus function to satisfactorily nx the, aluminum vanes i3 with respect to the steel casing I Iland 'steelY core ring I5, The pins I] andv Hlx` the parts together by being clinched overthe Casing I0 and core ring I5 re spectivelyrand also preferably by being welded to these two parts. Since the pins Il and Iiiare of steel, the Weldsv at22 and 24are easily made. It is, ofcourse, contemplated that the pins Il and I8.. may beofmaterials other than steel, but if weldedto the casings III and I5, they should be of, material easily Welded to the material of the casings,

The impellerelement may bemade by first stamping out the casing I0 and core ring I5 and providing these two members with the holes. I8 andltherein. Thevanes I3 are cast with the pins I1 and I8k imbedded therein so as to project from the edges I4 and I6 respectivelyof the vanes. Theparts are assembledby placingthe vanes I3 in ,thejcasing lwith the pins II extending throughtheopenings I3. The core, ring I5 is then put in placeV on the edges I6 of the vanes I3, with the pins yI8 extending through the holes 20. The pins Hand I8 are then clinched over to bring the ends ofthe pins IIa and IIb into contact with the face 2| of the ,casing Illand to bring the pin ends AIlia and I Bb into contact with the face 23 of thecore ring I5. The pinends I'Ic and I'Ib are then spot welded to the surface 2I of the casing land the pin ends I8a and Ib are Vspot Welded tothe surface 23 of the core ring I5.

The embodiment of the` invention illustrated in Figs. 4 .and 5 is .quite similar to that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and.3, theessential difference being 'that inserts or pins 23and N preerably of, steel extending completely through the vanes I3 which may be of aluminiun are provided in lieuI of the pins I'I and I8. Ajsingle pair of inserts 28,and 29 are provided for each of the vanes..l3 and extend .outwardly from the faces I4Yand I6 .ofthe vanes I3 similar to the pins Hand IB. As will be noted from Fig. 4 `the inserts 28 ,and 29. are considerably wider at their ends at the Vane edges I4 than at the other vaneedges, and therefore,

'one set' of inserts 28 and 29 is suflicient for each vane. Elongated openingsY 30 and 4III are provided respectively in vthe casing 'I IJ `andcore .ring I5 through which the inserts ZBand 29 project in order to properly position. the parts together. Theinserts are 'split and clinched over. on the faces 2I and 23 and, like the Cotter pins, II and I8,.are preferably weldedat 22 and 24 tol'thelse faces for fixing the parts together. The inserts 28 and 29 are provided with intermediate holes 32 for xing the inserts within the vanes I3, as shown.

The impeller, shown in Fig. 4, may be assembled similarly to that shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3. The casing li! and inner core l5 are first stamped out of sheet metal and the elongated openings 3e and 3| are provided therein. The vanes I3 are cast with the inserts 28 and 29 imbedded therein, and then the casing Ill, core ring i5 and vanes i3 are positioned relative to each other and are iixed together in the same manner as are the corresponding parts in the first embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, a vane i3 is shown fixed to a core ring I5 (and it will be understood that the vanes I3 may be similarly ixed with respect to an outer casing iii) by means of an expansion rivet 35. The vane it is provided with a hole 36 opening on its edge iii, and the core ring I5 is provided With an opening 3l, both of which are adapted to receive the expansion rivet 35. The rivet has a central cavity 3S therein bottomed by a constricted portion 3E) as shown. The constricted portion 39 is deformed in order to grip the sides of the hole 36 in the vane i3 for fixing the core ring and vane together. It will be understood that other vanes (not shown) are similarly fixed to the core ring i5.

This embodiment is assembled by placing the vanes i3 in their proper positions with the holes 3e in alignment with the openings 3l. The rivets 35 are then put into place, and the inner constricted portion of each of these rivets is deformed in order to form a tight union between the inner ends of the rivets and the sides of the holes te in the vanes i3. The inner end of each of the rivets may be so deformed by means of a punch le which is inserted into the central cavity 38 in the expansion rivet and is driven into the constricted portion 39 at the bottom end of the rivet.

l Wish it to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specic constructions of hydrodynamic couplings which are shown and described, except only insofar as the claims may be so limited, as it Will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made Without departing from the principles of the invention. In particular, I Wish it to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to torque converting couplings to the exclusion of non-torque converting couplings, unless the claims are so limited. Furthermore, I Wish it to be understood that although the embodiments or" the invention illustrated are in connection with an impeller element, the invention is not to be limited to an iinpeller element to the exclusion of driven and stator elements in a hydrodynamic coupling, unless the claims are so limited. Also, .l wish it to be understood that although the vanes i3 are described as being made of aluminum and the outer casing le and core ring l5 of steel, it is Within the scope of this invention, as defined by the claims, to make these parts of any suitable materials, unless the claims are so limited.

l claim:

l. in a varied element of a hydrodynamic coupling device, the combination of a hollow casing member, plurality of vanes of substantial thickness in said casing member, said casing member being formed of thin sheet ferrous metal and said vanes being formed of cast non-ferrous material, a deformable steel member formed of flat sheet metal stock, said deformable member being reversed upon itself to provide a head portion and a pair of parallel extending portions, said head portion and parallel extending portions being imbedded in each of said vanes and the latter portions projecting beyond the confines of said vane and extending through said casing member and being bent laterally in opposite directions so as to lie substantially flush With the outer faces of said casing member.

2. In a vaned element of a hydrodynamic coupling device, the combination of a hollow casing member, a plurality of vanes of substantial thickness fitting in said casing member, said easing member being formed of thin sheet ferrous metal and said vanes being formed of cast non-ferrous material, a deformable steel member formed of fiat sheet metal stock, said deformable member being reversed upon itself to provide a head portion and a pair of parallel extending portions, said head portion and parallel extending portions being imbedded in each of said vanes and the latter` portions projecting beyond the confines of said vane and extending through said casing member and being bent laterally in opposite directions so as to lie substantially flush with the outer faces of said casing member, and being Welded to said faces.

3. En a vaned element of a hydrodynamic coupling device, the combination of a hollow casing member, a plurality of vanes of substantial thickness rltting in said casing member, said casing member being formed of thin sheet ferrous metal and said vanes being formed of a cast aluminum. a steel attachment member having the generalA shape ci a conventional cotter pin and having, nat sides, the head portion of said attachments member and a part of the shank portion thereof j being inf-.bedded in each or" said vanes, the re` mainder of the shank part thereof projecting, beyond the confines of said vanes and extending. through said casing member, the projecting endsi of said attachment member being spread later-I ally and brought into face-to-face contact with` the outer surface of said casing member to bind said vane to said casing member in fixed relationship.

1i. En a vaned element of a hydrodynamic coupling device, the combination of a hollow casing member, a plurality of vanes of substantial thickness :F1-ting in said casing member, said casing member being formed oi thin sheet ferrous metal and said vanes being formed of Cast aluminum material, a steel attachment member having the general of a conventional cotter pin and having sides1 the head portion of said attachment member and a portion of the shank part thereof being imbedded in each of said vanes the remainder of the shank part thereof projecting beyond the confines of said vanes and extending through said casing member, the projecting ends of said attachment member being spread laterally and brought into face-to-face contact with the outer surface of said casing member to bind said vane to said casing member in fixed relationship, and being welded to said outer face.

5. In a vaned element of a hydrodynamic coupling device, the combination of a hollow casing member, a plurality of streamlined vanes fitting in said casing member, a core fitting on said vanes in spaced relationship to the casing membery said core and casing member being of sheet steel and said vanes being of cast aluminum, anda pair of deformable members formed of flat sheet steel for each of said vanes and each being tending portionsrn faeitoi'faee relationship, said vvaries being substantially-semana havmgfa 511m 'clem tn ikness td-omptelyivmbed thehea'dsof said` deformable members to thereby the deformable membersnth-e venes., the parallel extending; portionsonef of eachpair of said deformable members projeooingffiom one edge of each of saidnvanesandgejdgending through' s aid core, the parallel eifrterdlzrgVv portionsY of 'the'nother of each pair ofjsaid-defbxmab'le membersprojectingffrom' the othered'ge; of each-of sad'vanes and. extendilngfthrou'gh Asaid` casing member, the ends of said parallelextlir'r'dingA portions4 each extending through sad'oaslng'- member and core and being bent p dvveig'in-gl3'zv 'and' at substantially "right angiesjeas 11o-lie substantially flushv with the outer faces o fitghe casingf'member'and core` and being Weldedthereto.

ERCR'. LANGDON.

lz-efemivges` 'emana' me 111e fof this# patenti UN ITED STATES PATENTS Number Name: Daw lh'l-herty Feb. 23; 1897 Bateau Mar. 13;i 1906 Gilson: Dec. 3;Y 1918 Thomann- Oct. 15; 1929 Kennedy Sept. 29,A 1931 Le May' Dec. 2931931 Raymak A13ec.-22,I 1936 Wemp Junel; 1940 Zager Aug. 26,'-1941 Limbertf Sept' 29, l1942 Frisber Nov." 17, 1942 Millen July 13;,1943 McMattan Oct. 19, 1943 Amrine Mar; 28,',1944 Boerger:y Sept, 5, 1944 Salemi Mar; 13; 1945 Bolender: Jan. '17, 1950 

